Church service, blessing closes Choppers event

As the motorcyclists were getting ready to leave the fourth annual Choppers4Children event on Sunday, the Christian Motorcyclists Association provided them with a blessing of the bikes.

Todd G. Higdon

As the motorcyclists were getting ready to leave the fourth annual Choppers4Children event Sunday, the Christian Motorcyclists Association provided them with a blessing of the bikes.

“It gives us a chance to talk to people in our ministry, but more than that, basically God has a couple of things in line for us,” said Paul Richardson of Sane Mule Motorcycle Shop near Boulder City, a member of the CMA. “We can offer them a temporal blessing or we can talk to them more about eternal blessing.”

This was the first time that a blessing of the bikes had been performed at the C4C event.

“Any time they have a three day event that covers Sunday morning, a lot of times the vendors and people can’t go to church, it gives them an opportunity to if they are normally at home and normally at church — it fills that void with them,” Richardson said. “And then as a motorcycle ministry, it provides us an area for outreach on what we do.”

CMA started in 1972 and as that organization developed, Richardson said they are pretty much a mainstream of the motorcycle community and the bikers look forward to the things that they provide.

CMA members were on hand all weekend long to provide Bibles, water, coffee, tracts and other information.

Prior to the blessing of the bikes, a short service was performed.

Brother Fuzzy, a member of CMA – played the guitar and sang songs.

“I will be singing songs that the Lord has given me, there are original songs,” noted Fuzzy. “It is coming together for a common bond, denominator if you will. … But while they are here, if we sow the seed, water the seed or reap the harvest as the Lord would have, that is a great thing. But having everyone together for the single focus, the unity thing is great.”

Richardson finished up the service with a prayer.

“Father God, we ask that you land your hand of protection love and grace on us that you have in the past and watch over us,” said Richardson. “Protect these guys that are here and their gals and their rides and put a shield of protection around their bikes. We appreciate on what you provide for us Lord for the love and things that you have given us. The bikes and the life that we have and our families and those thing that we have on a day to day basis.”

Then members of the CMA walked around the event park and talking to the riders.

“We are here to be here for the people,” said Hal Henderson with CMA. “We are here to bless the bikes and talk to people. And that is all that we are about, getting the word Jesus out.”

CMA also handed out stickers and brochures.

“We want them to know that there are e people out here that care for them,” added Henderson.

One of the bikers was Joe Purinton of Lamar.

“I have been to other bike blessings before,” Purinton said. “I think that it is good to make people concessions and aware. Keep you safe.”

Neosho Daily News

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